City of Canandaigua changes proposed pesticide ban

Thursday

Jul 17, 2014 at 11:00 AM

The ordinance committee is now considering a modified ordinance that would ban the chemicals only on right of ways, not all city-owned property

Megan Brandow

After recent city discussions surrounding a pesticide ban on city property have not yielded any results, the city is now considering a modified ordinance that would ban the chemicals only on city-owned right of ways.

The city’s ordinance committee Tuesday was slated to vote on the the new ordinance proposal, brought forth by resident Joel Freedman who has been an activist for banning the chemicals, but no motion was made. Freedman’s original proposal was to include all city-owned property in the ban, such as parks and building grounds, but that proposal has been locked up in committee over the past few months with no motion to bring it to full council.

Council members and city staff said the issue would come back to committee in August after further investigation of the city’s jurisdiction over Main Street right-of-ways, which are located adjacent to Route 332, a state highway, but maintained by the city.

The next Ordinance Committee meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19.